Ava DuVernay has been given a prestigious platform to showcase her newest project, which chronicles the history of racial inequality in the U.S. According to Netflix, the esteemed director will open the New York Film Festival with her highly-anticipated project The 13th.

According to a press release, The 13th will premiere on the opening night of the festival for its 54th edition and will make history as the first nonfiction film to kick off  the event.

The festival runs from September 30 - October 16 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center and will also debut on Netflix before premiering in theaters on October 7.

For some background on the documentary, its title The 13th references the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, outlawing slavery. It delves directly into the high rate of incarceration in the U.S., particuarly of African-Americans.

"While I was watching The 13th, the distinction between documentary and fiction gave way and I felt like I was experiencing something so rare: direct contact between the artist and right now, this very moment," said Kent Jones, New York Film Festival Director and Selection Committee Chair. "In fact, Ava is actually trying to redefine the terms on which we discuss where we're at, how we got here, and where we're going. The 13th is a great film. It's also an act of true patriotism."

Check out how Ava DuVernay and Lupita Nyong'o combined their powers to create #BlackGirlMagic in the BET Breaks video, above.

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